By Haley Mitchell Godwin

After the group’s recent reorganization, the Crenshaw County Young Farmers (CCYF) held their first official meeting Aug. 15, marking a new chapter in the organization’s efforts to engage and support the local agricultural community. The meeting, which began at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at the Luverne Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) office featured a dinner catered by Flint’s Smokehouse and drew a total of 16 members and guests.

Guest speaker Calen Monroe, regional agent for Alabama Extension who specializes in Farm and Agribusiness Management, provided a wealth of practical advice tailored to beginning and young farmers. She emphasized the importance of leveraging local and federal resources.

“Connecting with local soil and water conservation districts and utilizing USDA resources can make a significant difference in your farming operations as they work hand in programming,” Monroe said. 

Monroe also highlighted the Crenshaw County Extension Office as an invaluable resource, mentioning that local agents and various publications are readily available to assist all farmers. She pointed out programs like the Beginning Farmer program and Operation Grow as particularly beneficial and urged attendees to set SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound — for their agricultural operations.

Operation Grow, a partnership between Extension and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, works to meet the training needs of military veterans interested in agriculture via grassroots educational and networking efforts that are inclusive of all veterans and their families with universal access to information and resources.

“If you’re a veteran, or know someone that is a veteran farmer, Extension has the Operation Grow program and I definitely encourage you to look that up and tell any veterans you know that are in farming about it,” Monroe said. “It’s a great resource, and the program just got funded for many years to come.”

Additionally, Monroe encouraged the group to stay updated on the farm bill and other legislative changes that could impact local farming. 

Monroe concluded by offering resources on record keeping and business structuring, including a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publication and a free online guide.

The meeting also served as a platform for organizational updates. Chairperson Lane Sides discussed upcoming CCYF events, including the annual Farm Safety Day scheduled for Sept. 20 and the Kindergarten Farm Day slated for Nov. 22.

Jacob Davis, Area 8 Organization Director for ALFA, provided a legislative update and offered guidance on how CCYF can develop a program of work and an annual action plan. Davis also underscored the importance of participating in the upcoming U.S. general election Nov. 5, encouraging members to register to vote and consider absentee ballots if necessary. He further outlined ALFA’s priorities for the next legislative session, including efforts to provide members with affordable health plans that could save them 30-60 percent on health-related bills. 

Davis also previewed the ALFA Young Farmers annual conference, set to take place in Tuscumbia, which will feature farm tours and other educational activities.

The meeting concluded with a special thanks to First South Farm Credit for sponsoring the event and to Flint’s Smokehouse and Calen Monroe for their contributions. Members were encouraged to follow the new CCYF Facebook page for updates on future events.

The Crenshaw County Young Farmers Committee is a volunteer organization whose role is to sponsor and be involved in events that promote agriculture throughout the community, to be a public player in local political issues that affect the family and the farm and to foster agricultural leadership and awareness as well as fellowship among young professionals in the county though regular meetings.

For more information on how to get involved with Crenshaw County Young Farmers, interested individuals can message the Crenshaw County Young Farmers Facebook page or reach out to CCYF secretary Jayden Powell at 334-342-0911.